A mouse to keep us clean and secure

One of our (many) pet peeves here at Crave is the penchant among some companies to develop products of dubious value, especially when it comes to variations on the mouse. But Iogear has bucked the trend with two useful features in one device even beyond its primary use.

The "Personal Security Mouse," as we reported earlier this year, is equipped to read fingerprints to prevent unauthorized mousage. What we just learned in a press release announcing its shipment, however, is that it another feature that every germaphobe can appreciate: "The surface," it says, "is covered with a titanium dioxide and silver nano-particle compound that contains antimicrobial properties to protect the product from bacteria."

Now that's what we call handy--a mouse that repels thieves and germs at the same time. As far as usefulness goes, it ranks right up there with the mouse for sweaty palms.